Saturday, August 20, 2011

British holidaymakers headed off to the exotic South American destination of Brazil should double in numbers when the country hosts the football World Cup in 2014.

Brazil holidays promoter Embratur made this claim after their predictions were thoroughly analysed. Embratur president Flavio Dino said that he was confident of Brazil's chances of doubling the influx of British tourists in 2014 as he presented his plans for a number of new initiatives which will be revealed for everyone to see at the forthcoming World Travel Market (WTM).

Stats revealed that last year nearly 170,000 British holidaymakers jetted off on cheap flights to Brazil. Clearly, this figure will increase dramatically in the lead up to the World Cup as football enthusiasts follow their beloved national team.

Mr Dino said: "Agents should be aware that we have a very comprehensive and expanding network of airports so it is relatively easy to combine two or three different destinations within a two-week break," he pointed out.

He added that the number of direct flights to Brazilian destinations have been rapidly increased, making it easier for people to find affordable flights at a time and from a departure location that is convenient to them.

BA only has already announced its intentions to double cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro from London Heathrow to provide services six times per week. Embratur officials like Mr Dino are convinced that other airlines will follow suit in the run up to the world’s biggest football event.

Mr Dino added that visitors: "should also be aware there are always hotels being built and new destinations being developed. Earlier this month, Embratur announced a new classification model for all of Brazil's 28,000 hotels in order for tourists to have transparent information on the quality and standards of the country’s accommodation."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Redevelopment work continuing this month at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil's slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup has been criticised by the controversial Fifa general secretary Jérôme Valcke.

Valcke, making his first public appearance since Fifa exonerated him of wrongdoing for saying Qatar had "bought" the 2022 World Cup hosting rights, said Brazil were well behind schedule on stadium and transport projects.

He told the Inside World Football Forum in Moscow: "There is a lot of work to deliver. We don't have stadiums, we don't have airports, we don't have a national transportation system in place and we are one month away from the preliminary draw.

"The Maracanã is definitely not currently a World Cup stadium and that's why it's closed. It will be ready at the last minute, a few months maybe, even a few weeks before the tournament if they don't speed up the process. In São Paulo they will not even be able to play the Confederations Cup in 2013 because the stadium will not be ready."

Valcke suggested the main aim in Brazil was to win the World Cup rather than organise a successful tournament.

"In South Africa the main goal was to show the world that Africa could organise a World Cup. In Brazil, in a way the main issue is to win it. Otherwise they will talk about failure."

He refused, though, to comment on the corruption scandals that have engulfed Fifa. "I'm here to talk about football. Sometimes at Fifa we need this," he said.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Hundreds of Brazilian police and soldiers backed by helicopters and armoured vehicles swept in to take over a crime-ridden Rio slum yesterday as part of a pacification plan ahead of the football World Cup in 2014.

More than 100 marines, 160 elite police officers and 600 ordinary officers took part in the operation in the hillside Mangueira neighbourhood, which went off without a shot being fired, a police spokesman said.

Mangueira is near Rio's famed Maracana football stadium.

The pre-announced operation began just after dawn with 14 armoured personnel carriers thundering up the slum's steep roads and helicopters clattering overhead, as security forces on foot followed with arms at the ready.

Ninety minutes later, two of the vehicles reached the highest point of the slum and officers hoisted the Brazilian flag atop a water tank. The forces met no resistance. Drug gangs that had been controlling the district had fled well in advance.

"We were woken at six in the morning by the helicopters. Everything was already calm before that. It would have been better if they spent the money on improving the hospitals," said one resident, a kitchen employee and mother of five who gave her first name as Bete.

Her seven-year-old nephew Donatan said he was afraid: "When I heard the noise, my legs started shaking. The house was shaking, too. I thought the police were going to start shooting."

Most residents refused to comment for fear of reprisals in case the drug gangs returned. The few who did refused to give their last name.

"All of that is because of the World Cup. But afterwards, who will make sure it doesn't go back to like before, that the police won't leave?" asked Vera, 54.

Vinicius, 15, feared what the slum would be like under police control. "It's finished, going out at night. We'll have to stay at home."

Some residents said they were worried more about the police than the gang members, who reigned but also provided security. There were also concerns that gunfights might break out between police and drug traffickers.

The operation was the final link in a "security perimeter" authorities have set up around the Maracana stadium, which will play host to the World Cup final, to be watched by more than 700 million television viewers around the world.

It will also be a venue for sports featuring in the 2016 Olympic Games, which Rio will also host.

Unlike in previous years, when the police raided the neighbourhoods only to exit soon after, leaving a vacuum quickly filled by returning gangs, they are setting up local posts in the slums to maintain control.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Airports, accommodation and transportation are on Fifa's agenda for World Cup 2014 as Valcke admits to issues regarding progress with modernisation.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke admits there are problems with the infrastructure surrounding preparations for World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

Valcke, who was speaking at the Fifa congress in Zurich where Sepp Blatter is running unopposed in the presidential elections, has previously criticised preparations for the slow pace which has hampered progress.

Yet, despite claiming Fifa is working hard to ensure everything is on course, Valcke, who is responsible for overseeing the tournament is delivered on time, admits there are problems.

"We have the full support of the new president of the country [Dilma Rousseff] which gives us confidence in the many problems we have to face which are airports, accommodation and transportation," Valcke said.

"We are working very well with the organising committee and Ricardo Teixeira."

Stadiums have also been hit by delays, but Valcke insists developments are in sight.

"We have been able to finalise with most of the cities about their stadiums,"﻿ he concluded.

Monday, May 30, 2011

RIO DE JANEIRO — The International Broadcast Center for the 2014 World Cup will be located in Rio de Janeiro, FIFA said Friday.

Rio won the right over Sao Paulo, South America's largest city, and Brasilia, the nation's capital.

FIFA said Rio was chosen because of its "quality of infrastructure" and "variety of accommodation."

"I can tell you it was a very difficult decision," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "All candidates were of great quality and showed huge commitment. But unfortunately there can only be one selected host and we considered that the best overall for FIFA was Rio de Janeiro."

Rio is set to host the World Cup final at Maracana stadium, while Sao Paulo and Brasilia are two of the cities vying for the opening match three years from now.

The media centre will be located at the Riocentro complex, which accommodated the press centre and some competitions during the 2007 Pan American Games.

"This IBC will be one of the most advanced information centres in the world for the months of June and July 2014," Valcke said. "It is a vital component, linking the FIFA World Cup to the rest of the world and ensuring that people across the globe have the latest and best coverage of our beautiful game."

FIFA said 179 broadcasters from more than 70 countries had onsite productions with 13,000 staff members during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

The two-day Seminar for Pitch Preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, held in Fortaleza (Ceara state), came to a conclusion yesterday. The event brought together pitch specialists from the 12 Host Cities, with key guidelines being put in place for all the stadiums hosting matches at Brazil 2014.

The event began on Thursday, with the Governor of Ceara state, Cid Gomes, in attendance along with FIFA representatives and members of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organising Committee (LOC).

FIFA organised the gathering with a view to establishing quality and durability standards applicable to all the pitches to be used at Brazil 2014. In the opinion of world football’s governing body, it is essential that all pitches are managed, maintained and cut according to the same guidelines.

A decision has yet to be made on the types of grass to be used at the tournament. This will be taken once FIFA has carried out studies across the country, which has four different types of climate in the months of June and July, each with different rainfall patterns. Pitch construction is thus a key factor when it comes to standardising guidelines, as drainage and irrigation systems will vary from venue to venue. The grass types selected will need to offer durability as well as the ability to regenerate quickly and adapt to each specific climate.

The Host Cities will receive guidelines on the construction of pitches and the equipment needed to maintain them before and after Brazil 2014. Speakers at the seminar pointed to the need for special pitch care at venues with a cold climate, as tropical grass species have greater difficulty in establishing themselves at low temperatures. Pitch specialists will assess the projects presented by the 12 Host Cities in close detail and will provide their assistance in implementing them.

As the LOC’s Executive Operations Director, Ricardo Trade, explained, the Host Cities have a major responsibility in ensuring they get pitch preparation right.

“As a country famed for its football, the onus and the moral obligation is upon us to stage a superb FIFA World Cup finals, with each venue offering the same level of quality,” he said. “This is our opportunity to show the world just how good we are even when we don’t have the ball at our feet.”

Thursday, May 19, 2011

On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 May, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the next FIFA World Cup™ will put on a Seminar for Pitch Preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil in the La Maison Events Centre in Fortaleza (Ceira state). The aim of the gathering is to communicate guidelines on the type of pitch to be used during the competition and to standardise playing surfaces across the tournament’s 12 Host Cities.

The event will get underway at 8.30am on Thursday. Attending the seminar will be pitch consultants from FIFA and the LOC, as well as directors from both organisations and representatives from the 12 Host Cities. Each and every one of the pitch projects proposed for Brazil 2014 will also be individually analysed at the event.

Information will also be provided on the types on drainage system to be used, the selection and testing of materials used in the drainage process, irrigation requirements and supply, water replacement, varieties of turf, turf planting, employee training and the positive legacy to be left after the competition.

“This is one of the legacies this World Cup will leave for football. By standardizing pitches at the highest level across Brazil, it will improve the quality of play and work in the favour of the most talented players,” explained LOC President Ricardo Teixeira.

In the view of agronomist Maristela Kuhn from the company Arena, who supply technical support services for stadiums and pitches to the LOC, this seminar will be key to ensuring the Host Cities fully understand the procedures to be followed when laying international-standard pitches.

“This seminar will be important in order for us to show each one of the Host Cities what will be required in technological terms when it comes to laying the pitches, depending on the climate in each area,” said Kuhn. “FIFA’s technical requirements will also be outlined, since we’re seeking to have excellent quality surfaces.”

This is the first official FIFA World Cup event to be held in Fortaleza. The LOC intends to spread out seminars and get-togethers across the 12 Host Cities, so that all of them have the chance to get into the FIFA World Cup spirit. Other cities that have already welcomed seminars this calendar year are Brasilia and Belo Horizonte.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Zimbabwe’s long road to the 2014 Fifa World Cup football finals to be staged in Brazil will start on November 11 this year following the adoption of a new format based on rankings by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Zimbabwe slid to their second worst ranking — 129 — in world football following their 1-0 defeat away to Mali in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in March. They are ranked 36th in Africa.

The April world rankings placed Zimbabwe 129th, just two places from their worst ever ranking of 131, which was attained in October 2009.

The latest ranking means Zimbabwe have gone down 11 places since January when they were ranked in 118th position.

Zimbabwe’s World Cup campaign starts immediately after the Warriors finish their current engagement in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with an away match to the Cape Verde Islands in October.

The new format, announced by Caf Monday will see five teams from Africa compete and Zimbabwe is part of the 24 nations that are ranked lowest on the continent.

The Caf Executive Committee, chaired by its president Issa Hayatou ratified the changes at a meeting on Monday and the qualifiers will start almost three years before the finals in Brazil.

The sides will be drawn in a two-legged tie that will be played on November 11 and November 15 this year, with 12 teams qualifying from the matches to join the remaining 28 teams in the draw. The 40 sides will then be drawn into 10 groups of four and they will play on a home-and-away basis in a round-robin format that will run from June 2012 to September 2013.

Only the 10 group winners will advance to the next stage and they will then be drawn in a two-legged tie that will determine Africa’s five representatives for the 2014 World Cup.

Those ties will be played in October and November 2013, meaning the qualification process in its entirety is two years long, making a total of 154 matches.

Zimbabwe are under Norman Mapeza in the Afcon campaign and it is highly unlikely that cash-strapped Zifa will make changes to the technical team for the more challenging World Cup qualifiers.

Already, Zifa are saddled with debts inherited from the Wellington Nyatanga regime and face a $450 000 compensation riddle for Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who has filed his claim with world football-governing body Fifa.

The Warriors have two points from three matches in the Afcon race, having drawn 1-1 and 0-0 against Liberia and Cape Verde Islands before the 1-0 loss to Mali in Bamako in March.

They face Mali on June 5 at home, Liberia in September, also at home and Cape Verde away in October before they kick-start the World Cup campaign the following month.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The FIFA Task Force Football 2014 convened for the first time today (10 May 2011) at the Home of FIFA, with former Zambian international striker Kalusha Bwalya heading the inaugural session as acting chairman. The high-profile panel of experts from across the world of football started its work by making some concrete initial proposals. In his opening remarks, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter stressed that the time had come to re-introduce such a task force for the first time since the 1990 FIFA World Cup™ in order to review the game and discuss what the future of football could hold. The objective for this task force is to formulate and present concrete solutions at the 2012 FIFA Congress.

“Unfortunately, Franz Beckenbauer was not able to attend today for health reasons,” said President Blatter, “but we prepared this task force meeting thoroughly together. I wish him a quick recovery. I am very proud of the commitment shown by all the members of this group. I am convinced that with this line-up we will endeavour to maintain and even raise the attractiveness of the game, in particular to meet the changing demands of fans, whilst continuing to protect its integrity and core values.”

Chairman Franz Beckenbauer sent a message to his colleagues, saying: “I very much regret that I am not able to attend today’s meeting. The FIFA Task Force Football 2014 is a hugely important project and the establishment of this working group, tasked with setting the course for the future of football, is an excellent idea put forward by the FIFA President.”

"I am convinced that with this line-up we will endeavour to maintain and even raise the attractiveness of the game, in particular to meet the changing demands of fans, whilst continuing to protect its integrity and core values." Sepp Blatter, FIFA President

“Working on this project means a great deal to me personally and I was very much looking forward to today’s meeting, and in particular to seeing my colleagues and experts from the world of football again. Over the last few weeks, we prepared everything in detail and it is now time to address a number of important matters. I am sure that my colleagues will represent me admirably today and that we will be able to lay the foundations together for our future work.”

The first concrete proposals of the FIFA Task Force Football 2014 are as follows:

· The members agreed to propose allowing a fourth substitution in extra time, particularly for youth competitions.

· Discussion of the interpretation of “Law 11 – Offside” when it comes to interfering with an opponent, especially when it is not physical interference.

· Triple punishment: the members agreed that only in case of serious fouls as well as when denying the opposing team a goalscoring opportunity should a triple punishment be imposed with a penalty, a red card and a suspension. The group proposed reducing sanctions for simple fouls and holding a player in the penalty area to a penalty and a yellow card only. The proposal will be re-submitted to IFAB.

· Refereeing: there was general agreement on the need to professionalise refereeing. Massimo Busacca reported on his experience as a FIFA referee as a basis for discussion on the group’s task to come up with concrete solutions in order to further enhance the level of refereeing and to look into opportunities for how to better support referees for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.

· Competition regulations: a proposal for a uniform classification system in all intercontinental competitions, including the procedures to determine the winner of a match, was discussed and adjourned for consideration at the next meeting.

· Youth competitions: the task force proposed that for FIFA U-17 competitions and below in both the men’s and women’s game, there should be no extra time following a draw after 90 minutes, and instead the teams should proceed directly to a penalty shoot-out.

· Women’s football: the group was asked to come up with proposals to increase the number of female coaches and female referees.

Chairman Franz Beckenbauer will report on the proposals at the 61st Congress in Zurich on 1 June. For further information on the task force and quotes from the members, please visit FIFA.com.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

LONDON/RIO DE JANEIRO, May 08: While Sports Minister Orlando Silva is making all the right positive noises about Brazil’s preparations to host the 2014 World Cup, support has come for concerns expressed earlier this year by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

A critical report in The Economist points up the lack of urgency in airport redevelopment, the fact that work has yet to start on the new stadium due to host the Opening Match in São Paulo and a forecast of cost over-runs on the rebuilding of Maracana in Rio de Janeiro – venue for the Final.

The size of Brazil means that airport efficiency is more important than at any previous World Cup. But The Economist says: “Most most of Brazil’s airports are already operating above their nominal capacity. Baggage handling and check-in are slow; delays and cancellations common . . . hectic growth in local demand would still leave most airports overcrowded — even without 1m football fans.”

This report quotes government sources refuting such negative forecasts but also notes Paulo Resende, an infrastructure specialist, as warning against unrealistic expectations. He says: “If we persist in saying that everything will be ready for the World Cup, no matter what, we risk making fools of ourselves.”

In the meantime, the Brazilian organising committee is in negotiations to appoint triple World Cup-winner Pele as a hosting ambassador.

This may illustrate the depth of concern behind the scenes. Pele has often been at odds with Ricardo Teixeira, who is president of both the Brazilian football confederation and the local World Cup organising committee.

Most notably, their row over domestic TV rights prompted Teixeira’s father-in-law, the then FIFA president Joao Havelange, to bar Pele from a role in the draw for the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

By uk.eurosport.yahoo.comBrazil's much-criticised 2014 World Cup preparations will be accelerated towards the end of the year and improve the country's image, sports minister Orlando Silva has said

Work on most of the 12 stadiums has been hit by increases in costs with the worst case in Sao Paulo where construction of Corinthians' new ground, earmarked for the opening match, is still to start three years before the finals.

"FIFA has been systematically following Brazil's preparations and knows the effort the country is making to comply with all the demands," Silva told the Radiobras programme 'Good morning minister'.

"I believe that as we move from 2011 into 2012 the perception of Brazil will change because work on the stadiums at that stage will be very different. I'm confident of that turning point."

However, Silva said on Monday it was unlikely the Corinthians stadium would be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, a rehearsal for the World Cup finals a year later, while the start of its construction is delayed by red tape.

Apart from Sao Paulo, work on the stadium in Natal in the north of the country is behind time, while the Maracana in Rio, likely to stage the final, required a huge increase in budget because of the need to replace the top tier because of structural problems.

Silva confirmed that President Dilma Rousseff's decision last month to turn over the improvement and running of airports to private firms had been well received by world governing body FIFA, which had criticised transportation in Brazil.

He said there would also be an investment of 700 million Brazilian reais ($420.2 million) in the ports of venue cities to receive passengers from Ocean cruise ships.

"It's an investment of 700 million focused on passenger terminals. With this investment we'll have adequate tourist terminals for the World Cup," he said.

Silva put at 47 billion reais the total of public and private investments in World Cup related projects from work on stadiums and airports to health, security, hotels and professional training.

Liberty Seguros will receive extensive marketing rights allowing the firm’s logo to be directly associated with the event as the ‘official insurance provider of the 2014 FIFA World Cup’. Nescau and Itau have already been announced as National Supporters of the tournament.

“It gives us great pleasure to welcome Liberty Seguros to our sponsorship family for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil. “The fact that so many Brazilian brands are showing such great interest in the event years before it is due to arrive in the country highlights what football and the FIFA World Cup means to the people of Brazil.”

Luis Maurette, Liberty Seguros’ CEO, added: “We are looking forward to playing our part in welcoming the FIFA World Cup back to Brazilian soil for the first time since 1950 and are sure that our involvement in the tournament will have a great impact on our business within Brazil. We firmly believe that this sponsorship will bring us closer to our consumers.”

Brazil will let private companies run the airport terminals needed for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, a reversal leaving some entrepreneurs wary about taking part.

The government will offer concessions to firms willing to build - and operate - five major passenger terminals demanded by the tournament, Reuters reports.

Still, the private sector remains hesitant of the red tape that comes hand-in-hand with its involvement.

"Time is short,” Paulo Godoy, head of private infrastructure association Abdib, told the news agency. “We need clear rules of the game fast.”

Around $3 billion is being spent to upgrade Brazil’s airports prior to the World Cup. FIFA has cited the slow pace of construction and upgrades on airports as its chief concern in recent months.

Up to one million visitors are expected for the month-long tournament. With venues in 12 cities spread across Brazil, the World Cup is more dependent on a robust airport infrastructure than the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Two airports serve the city of Rio de Janeiro, one for international travel and one for domestic flights.

The winners will join the remaining 25 higher-ranked teams from the region in the draw. The first game is scheduled for June 3, with the return leg on June 7.

The Brazil 2014 qualifying draw, a key milestone in the country's World Cup preparations, will take place at Marina da Gloria harbour, close to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach. Almost all of FIFA's 208 member nations are expected to be involved in the draw, including those currently suspended, Indonesia and Bosnia.

In March, FIFA decided that CONCACAF and the other five continental confederations would have the same allocation of places for the Brazilian World Cup as for last year's edition in South Africa.

Roumas re-elected as Belarus FA chiefSergei Roumas says he aims to raise standards in the national league after being elected as the new president of the Football Federation of Belarus.

Roumas was elected unopposed in the association's elections. He replaces Gennadi Nevyglas, who has been named honorary president.

"We have to double the number of people involved in grassroots football. Youth football is hugely important to us. We need to improve the standard of the national league as it is fundamental to all our national teams," Roumas told delegates, according to UEFA.com.

Belarusian football has grown in stature under Nevyglas. The country qualified for a third UEFA European Under-21 Championship this summer. The efforts of FC BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League have raised the profile of the country's club football.

Monday, April 25, 2011

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's minister of sports, Olrando Silva, on Sunday openly criticized the city of Sao Paulo for its lack of preparations regarding the 2014 World Cup.

Silva cited that the delay in construction of Corinthians' new stadium as irresponsible. Corinthians and the city of Sao Paulo are in the dispute to hold the opening ceremonies and first match of the 2014 World Cup.

The minister added that Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Salvador are also locations that are in contention to hold the inaugural match. Silva emphasized that FIFA will have the final say as to where the opening match will be held.

Corinthians previously issued a statement claiming that its new stadium will not be ready in time to host any of the matches during the 2013 Confederations Cup, warm-up tournament to the 2014 World Cup.

Silva cited that 70 percent of the construction projected in preparation for the 2014 World Cup will have begun in 2011. The delay in construction and preparation for the world's largest soccer event has caused the president of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, to condemn the holdups in Brazil.

Worried about the delays, Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff has scheduled a meeting with each of the respective governors and World Cup organizers in each of the host cities. The president hopes to encourage the speedy and successful completion of construction and preparation throughout country so that Brazil can pull off a triumphant World Cup in 2014.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Following a proposal made by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA Task Force Football 2014 was approved by the Executive Committee on 29 October 2010. The 22-member think tank comprises representatives from FIFA’s Football, Technical and Development, Medical and Referees Committees and other football experts. Their brief is to carry out an in-depth analysis of the modern game with a view to making proposals designed to improve it at every level.

Chaired by Franz Beckenbauer, the Task Force will work on areas such as the Laws of the Game, refereeing, competition regulations, women’s football, medical matters and fair play. FIFA.com introduces you to its 22 members.

Franz Beckenbauer (Chairman): One of the most successful players in the history of the game, the Bayern Munich and West Germany centre-half is the only man along with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo to have won the FIFA World Cup™ as both a player and a coach. Nicknamed The Kaiser during his playing days, Beckenbauer was also the President of the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Local Organising Committee.

Carlos Alarcon Rios: Hailing from Paraguay, Mr Alarcon is the President of the CONMEBOL Referees Committee and is one of the most prominent figures in refereeing in Latin America. He is also a member of the FIFA Referees Committee.

Demetrio Albertini: An utterly dependable midfielder in his playing days, Albertini spent 12 seasons at AC Milan, making 415 appearances for the club to go with the 79 he made for his country. The 39-year-old retired in December 2005 but maintained his links with the game by becoming a vice-president of the Italian Football Association.

Massimo Busacca: The 42-year-old Swiss is regarded as one of the finest referees in the world. He took charge of four games at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and speaks five languages in all (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German).

Kalusha Bwalya: The former Zambia international top-scored at the 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations and has held many positions in the game. After taking on the job of national team coach following his retirement, he then became President of the Zambian Football Association and now sits on the CAF Executive Committee.

Cafu: Born Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, Cafu is one of the finest right-backs in the history of the game. Now 40, he won 142 caps for Brazil and appeared in four FIFA World Cup finals, collecting a winner’s medal in two of them (1994 and 2002), the second time as captain.

Sir Bobby Charlton: Regarded as one of the finest English players of all time, Charlton formed part of a fabled trio at Manchester United with Denis Law and George Best and played a central part in England’s FIFA World Cup triumph on home soil in 1966. He also sits on FIFA’s Football Committee.

Ivan Curkovic: The President of Partizan Belgrade and the President of Serbia’s National Olympic Committee until February 2009, this ex-goalkeeper played 19 times for the former Yugoslavia and made 383 appearances for Saint-Etienne. He also sits on FIFA’s Stadium and Security Committee.

Jiri Dvorak: FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer and the Director of its Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), Professor Dvorak has been working with world football’s governing body since 1994 and is also a member of IOC and WADA committees.

Sunil Gulati: A professor of Economics at the University of Columbia, New York, Mr Gulati is the President of US Soccer, the USA’s national association, and also sits on FIFA’s Strategic Committee.

Fernando Hierro: One of the finest central defenders of his time, the Spaniard spent 14 seasons at Real Madrid, winning three UEFA Champions League titles with them. He is currently Technical Director with the Spanish national team.

Charmaine Hooper: A legend in her native Canada, Hooper won 131 caps with the Maple Leafs, scoring 71 goals, and appeared in the FIFA Women’s World Cup three times. She is now a member of FIFA’s Football Committee.

Alex Horne: Horne was appointed English Football Association’s Finance Director in 2003 and was made its General Secretary in May last year. He was also the Managing Director of Wembley Stadium from December 2006 to July 2008.

Christian Karembeu: Born in New Caledonia, and a world champion with France in 1998 and a European champion two years later, Karembeu was a versatile midfielder before retiring to become FIFA Ambassador for Oceania and a member of FIFA’s Football Committee.

Tracy Lu: Hailing from China, Lu is a member of FIFA’s Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup, and began her career as an interpreter with the Chinese Football Association, where she has climbed up through the ranks.

Ioan Lupescu: The former attacking midfielder is one of the best-known and most successful players in his Romania’s history. Lupescu appeared at two FIFA World Cup finals and at two UEFA EURO tournaments in the 1990s and represented his country on 72 occasions, scoring six goals in the process. He has formed part of FIFA’s Technical Study Group many times.

Peter Mikkelsen: Now 61, the Dane became an international referee after ending his playing career, officiating in two matches at Italy 1990 and three at USA 1994. He now sits on FIFA’s Referees Committee.

Dejan Savicevic: An old-style left winger, the Montenegrin was a skilled dribbler with an eye for goal. The scorer of 29 goals in 56 games for the former Yugoslavia, Savicevic also enjoyed great success with AC Milan. Now the President of the Montenegrin Football Association, he is also a member of FIFA’s Football Committee.

Marina Sbardella: This Italian TV journalist has hosted several sports programmes on TG3, TMC and La7, and sits on the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups. She is also a member of the coaching staff for the Italian national women’s team.

Kohzo Tashima: Formerly the Technical Director of the Japanese Football Association and now its General Secretary, Mr Tashima played an active part in the preparations for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/Korea. He is also a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Theo van Seggelen: The General Secretary of FIFPro, the worldwide players’ union, which represents some 55,000 players, Mr Van Seggelen also sits on FIFA’s Strategic Committee.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Brazil's Civil Aviation Secretary Wagner Bittencourt said on Friday that the renovations in the country's airports for the 2014 FIFA World Cup are proceeding as scheduled. "The renovations are going ahead as scheduled to meet to the demands presented by the Cup," Bittencourt said. The secretary's statement contradicts a report released on Thursday by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), which stated that out of the 12 airports which are being renovated for the World Cup, nine would not be ready in time for the competition. According to Bittencourt, the government is studying strategies to speed up the projects, and one of the options foresees private investments in the airports. He stressed, though, that no decision has been made. Planning Minister Miriam Belchior agreed with Bittencourt that the renovations are going as expected. She said Brazil will not be ashamed of the airports in the World Cup. "As always, Brazil will do fine," she said. FIFA considered the state of Brazilian airports a critical point in Brazil's preparation to host the World Cup. The International Olympic Committee also expressed worry about the subject, as Rio will host the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Brazil's legendary stadium, which was built 61 years ago, will receive a big-money facelift to fall into line with Fifa rules that all stadia must be covered in three years time. Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium will receive a big-money makeover in time for the 2014 World Cup which is to be held in Brazil. The Rio state body for the protection of historical and artistic buildings (Iphan) has granted permission for a new, larger covering to replace the original roofing of the 82,000 capacity stadium. Renovation is compulsory due to Fifa stating that all stadia holding 2014 World Cup matches must be fully covered. The famous Maracana was originally built 61 years ago, in time for the last time the South American nation held the finals in 1950. The news comes after Fifa president Sepp Blatter praised the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for their work in preparation for the World Cup in 2014. "We have received some very positive reports everywhere, especially in construction, not only of the stadiums but also the airports and hotels in the different regions," the 75-year-old told reporters on a visit to El Salvador. The renovation is expected to be completed by December 2012, in time for the Confederations Cup in Brazil the following summer.